Treatment implications of renal disease in patients with atrial fibrillation: The BALKAN‐AF survey

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often co‐exists with renal function (RF) impairment. We investigated the characteristics and management of AF patients across creatinine clearance strata and potential changes in the use of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) according to different equations for estimation of RF. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis of the BALKAN‐AF survey, patients were classified according to RF (Cockcroft‐Gault formula) as: preserved/mildly depressed RF (P‐RF) ≥50 mL/min, moderately depressed RF (MD‐RF) 30‐49 mL/min, and severely depressed RF (SD‐RF) <30 mL/min. RESULTS: Of 2712 enrolled patients, 2062 (76.0%) had data on RF. Patients with SD‐RF and MD‐RF were older, had higher mean value of European Heart Rhythm Association score, stroke and bleeding risk scores, and more comorbidities than patients with P‐RF (all P < .05). They received oral anticoagulants (OAC), AF catheter ablation, and electrical cardioversion less often than those with P‐RF (all P < .05). Rate control, no OAC, single‐antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) alone, and loop diuretics were more prevalent in patients with SD‐RF and MD‐RF than in subjects with P‐RF (all P < .005). An important change in NOAC therapy could appear in <1% of patients (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula) and in <1% of patients (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration group formula). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SD‐RF and MD‐RF were older, more symptomatic, had higher stroke and bleeding risk and more comorbidities than those with P‐RF. They were less likely to receive OAC and more likely to use rate control strategy, SAPT alone, and no OAC than subjects with P‐RF.